Device for packing materials



Oct. 5,1937. A, UNT- 2,094,698

DEVIIiCE FOR PACKING MATERIALS Original Filed June 15, 1934 2Sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTOR-" James/4.F//h7 ATT'Y J. A. FLINT DEVICE FORPACKING MATERIALS :3 0- 9 /NVEN TOFP: N James A. F//'n7j BY W PatentedOct. 5,

PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR PACKING MATERIALS James A.

Flint, Upper Arlington, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Traylor Vibrator Company,

Application a corporation of Colorado June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,787

Renewed March 4, 1937 I 20 Claims. (01. 259-72) This invention relatesto a device for packing granular materials in receptacles or containersby imparting a vibratory motion thereto during the loading thereof and,although particularly adapted to the loading of such materials inbarrels, it

may have a general application.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of and means forfirmly packing material in a container during loading thereof.

Another object of the invention is the method of and means for loading acontainer, such as a barrel, by imparting a vibratory motion theretowhereby the amount of material that may be placed in said container maybe appreciably increased and the time required to fill the container maybe appreciably decreased.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafterg'the novelfeatures and combinations -being'*set forth in the appended claims. 20In the accompanying drawings:

, Fig. 1 is an elevational view form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is .an end view of the mechanism of Fig. 1; Fig. 2ais a sectio alview on line 2a.-2a. of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

of an improved Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-2 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the'arrows; r

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another form of my invention; and

Figs 5 is an end view of the Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of device shown in thedrawings, there is seen at 6, 6 a pair of stationary, permanently-fixedl-beams which comprise mounting means for the barrel packer of myinvention. Each of said I-beams is provided with spaced upstandingbosses I at the top thereof adapted to form seats for fourcoil springs8, 8 which are adapted to yieldinglyv or flexibly support the vibratorystructure of my invention.

A frame H is mounted on the coil springs 8, 8 by means of mechanismcomprising the brackets 9, ,9, provided withadjustable screws 9, 9'which The lower end of each screw 9' extends into a recess in the top ofcap ill the lower side of which has a boss ill to form a' seat for theupper end of the spring 8. This provides an adjustable sup-'- porting ofthe frame H on said coil springs 8, 8 and allows anydesireddistribution-of the weight of the'whole device between said coil springs8, 8.

- As'indicatedin Figs. '1 and 3; the frame II is open at 12 adjacent oneside thereof and is closed 55 at the opposite side l3. Said frame isprovided are threaded vertically through the brackets 9, 9

with a longitudinally extending opening ll of a substantiallyrectangular cross-section.

Extending longitudinally through said opening I4 of the frame I I is aplurality of stacked spring leaves I5 clamped rigid with said frame H atthe extreme 'ends of said spring leaves between downwardly projectingbosses l6, It at the top of said opening l4 andupwardly projecting clampplates l1, l1 adjustable to clamping position by studs l8, l8.Intermediate the ends of said spring leaves 15, the upper and lowerwalls of frame II are spaced therefrom to allow free vibration thereofabout their clamped ends.

Within the opening l2 of the frame ll there extends an upright armatureshaftlQ provided with a transverserectangular opening 20 through whichsaid spring leaves l5 are adapted'to extend and be clamped to saidarmature shaft at their center points by means of a clamping plate 2|forcing the spring leaves downwardly against the bottom of said opening20 under the influence 1 of clamping studs 22, carried by a transverseweb 22.

The clamping plate 2| may be provided with-a machine screw 23 surroundedby a coil spring in which the shank of the machine screw extends looselythrough said transverse web 22' and is screw-threaded into clampingplate 2|. By this means, the clamping plate 2| is held in placeby themachine-screw 23 prior to the insertion of the spring leaves l5.

The armature shaft l9 lsprovided with a cross head 24 formed integraltherewith, adapted to carry a supporting bed frame 25 as by nuts andbolts 26, 26. The bedframe 25 comprises a sub-' stantially horizontalplate 21 and parallel down-' wardly extending plates 28, 28, the, latterbeing adapted to be clamped to the cross head by nuts and bolts 26, 26.Reinforcing webs 25 may be provided to reinforce the horizontal plate21. Said plate 2'lis preferably provided adjacent each 1 of its endswith upwardly extending barrel guides 30 adapted to position the barrels3| during the filling thereof.

At its lower face, frame It is provided with spaced U-shaped brackets32, 32 clamped at their upper ends to said frame II as by studs. Betweenthe bottoms of said U-shaped brackets is adjustably mounted an electricmotor comprising a field structure 33 having a U-shaped field core ofmagnetic material, as iron or steel laminations, and a-field winding.The field winding is adapted.- to be energized from anyv source ofalternating or pulsating'current as, for example, the ordinarycommercial outlet providing 60- cycle alternating current. It is, ofcourse, un-

derstood that current of any frequency may be employed provided thehereinafter discussed relation is maintained.

The lower end of the armature shaft I9 is adapted to carry an armature33' preferably comprising iron or 'steel laminations 34 and adapted tobe spaced from the core of said field structure 33 to form an air gaptherewith and to .vibrate with respect thereto when said field windingis energized by alternating or pulsating current.

It is thus seen that the barrels 3| to be filled with material aresupported on a vertically vibrated vibratory structure designatedgenerally by 31 and comprising said armature 33', armature shaft l9,cross head 24,bed frame 25, plate 21 and all parts rigid with any of thespecifically mentioned elements thereof. This vibratory structure 31 isin turn supported by means of spring leaves l5 at their center points,which spring leaves are supported by the frame H at their extremities.The field structure 33 .of the electric motor is rigid with the framebeing rigidly attached thereto by said U-shaped brackets 32, 32. Theframe II is also flexibly supported by the springs 8, 8 to prevent thetransfer of any vibratory movement of said frame II to the I-beams 6, 5.

The amplitude of vibration of said armature 33' andthe'resulting'amplitude of vibration of the vibratory structure 31 maybe adjusted within limits by controlling the width of the air gapbetween the armature 33' and the core of the field structure 33 by theadjustable screws 35, 35 which are screw-threaded through the bottom ofthe U-shaped brackets 32, 32 and carry between the adjusting nuts 36, 36a top plate of the field structure 33.

' In-additlon, the amplitude of vibration of armature 33' may becontrolled by inserting a variable resistor in the circuit of the fieldcoil of A said field structure 33 to control the current flow thereinand consequently control the magnetic strength thereof.

In the operation of my device, the armature 33' is attracted toward thefield structure twice during each complete cycle of energization of saidfield structure 33 when the latter is energized by alternating current;that is, if the field structure 33 is energized by a current of afrequency of sixty cycles a second, the armature 33' will 'be attractedone hundred twenty times a second. During each attraction of thearmature 33', the

vibratory structure designated generally by 311s 'adapted'to vibrate.Thisvibratory. action is effected by the spring leaves I5 and thevibratory motor comprising the field structure 33 and the armatu're 33'.That is, during each attraction of the armature 33' by t e fieldstructure 33, the armature shaft I3 is m ved downward and deflects thespring leaves l5, storing energy there- ,in. Upon the reduction ofcurrent fiow in the field windinif 'of the field structure 33, thearmature 33' is eifectively released whereupon the vibratory structure31 is moved upward under the influence of the spring leaves l5, whichtend to assume their initial positions and therefore transfer the energystored therein by their deflection to said vibratory structure 31.

In order to enhance greatly the effectiveness of .my device and toreduce greatly the amount of energy required to perform a packingoperation, it is particularly desirable that the vibratory system have anatural period of vibration current, which results in the barrels 31acting as structure 33, is energized by alternating current v ofGO-cycIe-per-second frequency and attracting the armature 33' at afrequency of one hundred twenty times a second, then the natural periodof vibration of said vibratory structure should be approximately onehundred twenty cy: cles per second. The period of vibration oi? saidvibratory structure may be determined by wellknown mechanical formulae.

While it is preferred that the natural period of vibration of saidvibratory structure 31 be substantially the same as the period ofenergization of the field structure 33, it is desirable that exactresonance between the two be not maintained. It is therefore preferableto have the period of the vibratory structure either slightly below orslightly above the period of energization of the field structure 33whereby there is always some load upon the motor vibrator comprising thefield structure 33 and the armature 33'. In the absence of some loadupon said motor vibrator, it is .difiicult to control and will tend todestroy itself when no usefulwork is being done.

In addition,by operating the device at a frequency slightly differentfrom its natural frequency, the amplitude of vibration of the vibratorystructure 31 will be substantiallyconstant, irrespective of the loadcarried on the plate 21. This is of considerable advantage because thevibratory action received by the granular material fed to the barrels 3|will be substantially the same when the filling operation begins aswhen. it ends. Uniform packing throughout the barrels is thus insured. 7

It is also an important characteristic of my device that the loadprovided by the barrels 3| does not alter the natural period ofvibration of the vibratory structure 31. This is apparently due to thehigh frequency of vibration thereof, 7200 cycles per minute whenenergized from a commercial source of BO-cycle per second a live" load,rather than a dead.lo'ad, relative to said vibratory structure 31. Thatis, the barrels 3| do ,not become an efiective part of the vibratorystructure 31. As a consequence the vibratory period of said structure 31maybe pre- 50 period at which it is to be vibrated and this differencewill be substantially constant regardless of the amount 'of material inbarrels 3|. It has been demonstrated by experiment on an average 5 saidfrequencies beingas low as 1500 cycles per minute. However, even thisfrequency is a high frequency" as understood in this artand. as hereinclaimed.

By employing the packing device embodying my. invention, a wide range ofmaterials, particularly of granular nature, may each be uniformlypacked. For instance, chemical salts may be uniformly packed in givensized containers so that 7 selected at a value slightly above or belowthepredetermined amount of material may be very materially reduced. Inaddition, it has been found in practice "that the amount of materialwhich may be packed into a container is very ma-. terially increased.Packing of granular material 0 may therefore be efliciently effected inmeasured quantities in cartons of reduced size.

In Figs. 4 and .5 I have illustrated another form of my invention whichdoes not differ greatlyfrom that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Thedifferences in structure from said form illustratedin Figs. 1, 2, and 3will be particularly discussed. In the form of my invention as il-'lustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the liorizontal plate 21' is designedtocarry a single retainer 3|. The frame. II' in which the spring leaves l5are mounted is not open at one side as was the frame II but, as seen inplan view, comprises a-continuous ring with a central opening forreceiving the armature shaft IS. The mounting of the frame ii differsfrom that illustratedv in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Said mounting comprisesupright standards 38, 38 with feet 39, 39 adapted to rest upon the flooror foundation. The upper ends of said standards 38, 3B are provided withcups 40, 40 adapted to receive spring means which may comprise rubbercylinders 4|, 4| having central openings 42-, 42 adapted to receive'guide pins 43, 43 carried on brackets 44, 44 rigidly attached to frame.I i. Said rubber cylinders 4|, 4! thereby restrict the transfer ofvibrations from the frame II to the standards 38. In 'each of the formsof my invention, it is desirable that the vibrations of the motorvibrator 33' be imparted'as much as possible to the vibratory structure31 and that a minimum of vibration be imparted to the frame II or II. Tothis end the weight of said frame II or ii ismade substantially greaterthan that of the vibratory structure '31 and is preferably at leasttwice the weight thereof. By this expedient, the vibrations are manifestprincipally by the vibratory structure.3'| and to'only a small degree inthe frame II or II. Such vibrationsas are present in-the frame II or Iiare not transmitted to the supporting structure 6 or 38 by virtue of thespring mountings 8 and ll.

The amplitude of vibration of the vibratory structure 31 is so'small andits rate of vibration so large that the vibratory'movement thereof isnot visible to the naked eye but is sensitive by touch andis veryeffective to produce the desired packing operation.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make .various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the inventionas defined by the clai'nns -hereto appended, and Iwish therefore not to be restricted-to the precise construction hereindisclosed. 7 I

Having thus described and shown an embodiment ofmy invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vibratory barrel packing device, the combination with avibratory structure including a container support of sufllcient size tosupport a large containeniike a barrel, and carried upon. energystoringsprings, said structure having a natural period of vibration independentof any container supported thereby, of vibratory motor means forperiodically storing energy in saidsprings by causing deflection thereofand for periodically releasing said springs whereby to but slightlydifferent from the natural period of said vibratory structure. 2. In avibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structureincluding a container support, of means comprising a spring leafforsupporting said vibratory structure, said vibratory structure havinga natural period of vibration, and means for vibrating said vibratorystructure at a frequency slightly diiferent from said natural period.

3. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratorystructure including a container support adapted to support a heavycontainer, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising aspring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to asupporting frame at each end for periodically imparting vibratory motionto said vibratory structure by energy stored therein, and vibratorymotor means for periodically storing energy in said spring leaf bydeflection thereof at a rate of 7200- cycles per minute when energizedby current of a frequency of 60 cycles per second.

4. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratorystructure including a container support, of carrying means'for saidvibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at itscenter and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end, saidspring predetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratorystructure, and motor means for periodically vibrating said vibratorystructure at a high frequency and slightly different from said naturalperiod.

5. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratorystructure comprising means adapted to carry a container to be filledwith material, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprisinga spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to ation with a vibratory structure comprising means adapted to carry alarge container to be filled with granular material, of carrying meansfor said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached theretoat its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end,said spring predetermining the natural period of vibration of saidelectric vibratory system, electric motor means comprising an armatureas a part of said vibratory structure for periodically vibrat'- ing saidvibratory structure at a frequency slightly different from said naturalperiod and at .a frequency of 7200 cycles per minute when energized froma source of current of 60 cycles per second. 7. In a"vibratory packingdevice, the cor'nbination with a vibratory structure comprising meansadapted to carry a container to be filled with.

granular material, of carrying means for said vibratory structurecomprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidlyattached predetermining the natural period of vibration of saidvibratory system, electric motor means comprising an armature as a partof said vibratory 'structure for periodically vibrating said vibratorystructure at a frequency slightly different from said natural period,said supporting frame having a weight at least twice as great as that ofsaid vibratory structure.

8. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratorystructure comprising means adapted to carry a container to be filledwith granular material, of carrying means for said vibratory structurecomprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidlyattached to a supporting frame at each end, said spring predeterminingthe natural period of vibration of said vibratory system, and electricmotor means comprising an armature as a part of said vibratory structurefor periodically vibrating said vibratory structure at a frequencyslightly difierent from said natural period, saidmotor being adapted toimpart vibratory movement to said vibratory structure substantiallyentirely along i a vertical axis and at a frequency at which thecontainer acts as a live load on said vibratory structure and does notaffect the predetermined frequency thereof 9. In a vibratory packingdevice, the combination with a vibratory structure including a containersupport, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising anenergy storing spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidlyattached to a supporting frame at each end thereof, said springpredetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratory system,and motor means for periodically storing energy in said spring bycausing deflection thereof and forperiodically releasing said springswhereby they may vibrate said body by said stored energy, said motormeans operating to deflect and release said spring at afrequencysubstantially the same as the natural period of said vibratorystructure.

10. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a plate adaptedto carry a plurality of containers to be filled with material, of meansfor suspending said plate for vibration comprising a central support, aleaf spring attached to said central support at its center and attachedto a frame at each end thereof, said spring being capable of supportingheavy weights without appreciable deflection, and electro-magnetic meansfor imparting high frequency vibratory motion to said plate along anaxis parallel with the axis of said support thereby to deflect saidspring periodically under the cumulative influence of electric impulses.

11. The method of packing material comprising supporting thematerial ona vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carriedon energy storing springs, periodically deflecting and releasing saidsprings at a period substantially in resonance with the natural periodvibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carried onenergy storing springs I which springs are in turn supported by a frameof weight at least twice as" great as the weight of the vibratorystructure, imparting vibrating forces to said vibratory structure byperiodically deflecting and releasing said springs at such frequency ashas a period substantially in resonance with the natural period of saidvibratory structure whereby energy is periodically stored in saidsprings and delivered up by said springs to vibrate said vibratorysupporting structure at approximately its natural frequency.

13. The method of packing material comprising supporting the material ona vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carriedon energy storing springs, periodically deflecting and releasing saidsprings at a period slightly dif ferent from the natural period of saidvibratory structure whereby energy is periodically stored in saidsprings and delivered up by said springs to vibrate said vibratorystructure at a frequency slightly diflerent from its natural frequency.

14. The method of packing material comprising supporting the material ona vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration whichcomprises imparting vibratory movement to said structure at a frequencyslightly different from its natural period, whereby vibrations ofsubstantially uniform amplitude will be imparted thereto regardless ofthe amount of material being packed, with a minimum expenditure ofenergy.

15. The method of packing granular material in a container, comprisingsupporting the container on a vibratory structure having a naturalperiod of vibration and while gradually delivering the granular materialto said container imparting vibratory movement to said structure at afrequency differing from its natural period to enable maintenance ofsuch vibrations at uniform aniplitude until said container is completelyfilled.

16. The method of packing granular' material in a container whichconsists in imparting to the support for the container electro-magneticimpulses by means of uninterrupted undulating electric current having afrequency differing from 40 the natural period of vibration of saidsupport and thereby maintain a uniform amplitude of vi-' bration with aminimum expenditure of electric current until the container is compactlyand quickly filled with such granular material.

1'7. The method of quickly and compactly packinggranular material in acontainer, which consists in imparting to a resilient support for thecontainer electro-magnetic impulses by means of uninterrupted undulatingelectric current having filling of said container.

18. The methodof quickly and compactly filling a container with granularmaterial which consists in imparting vibrations of minute amplitude to aresilient support having only extremely small ilexure and a naturalperiod of vibration by means of uninterrupted undulatory electriccurrent to exert electro-magnetic impulses on such support at afrequency difl'erent from said natural period to effect maintenance ofthe aforesaid amplitude while granular material is gradually deliveredto said container.

19. The method of quickly and compactly filling a barrel with granularmaterial which consists in imparting to a slightly \yielding barrelsupport I during the gradual filling of the barrel thereon verticalvibrations of minute amplitude by means of uninterrupted undulatingelectric current to exert on said sup rt electro-mag'netic impulseshaving a frequency diflerlng from the natural period of said supportthereby main aining sub- 7 stantially uniform such amplitude ofvibration with aluminium consumption of electric current during theentire time consumed for the complete filling of said barrel with saidgranular material.

20. A vibratory packing device, comprising the combination with a plateadapted to carry a container tobe filled with material, of means forsupporting said plate for vibrationcomprising a central support, a leafspringattached to said central support at its center and attached to aframe at each end thereof, said spring being capable of supporting heavyweights without appreciable deflection, and eiectro-m'agnetic meansconstructed and arranged to impart high frequency vibratory motion tosaid plate by deflecting said spring periodically under the cumulativeinfluence of electric impulses.

JAMES A. FLINT.

